Honoring the forever captain | Honrando al eterno capitán

Honoring the forever captain | Honrando al eterno capitán

A little over a year ago, Chivas USA lost U-18 defender and team captain Julio Chavez in a tragic car accident in Modesto, Calif. But on Sunday night, Chivas USA had the honor to welcome Chavez’s surviving family, parents Francisco and Isabel Chavez, as well as his four siblings Francisco, Claudia, Rafael and Cecilia.

The family was presented a special captain’s armband, specially designed in honor of Chavez by local artist Uriel Bautista, before the start of the match, armband that goalkeeper Dan Kennedy will wear in Sunday night’s match. Additionally, all Red-and-White Youth Development team captains will wear the armband for the upcoming 2014/15 USSDA season that kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 6 in Bell Gardens.

Chávez, who had been a part of Chivas USA’s Youth Academy for over three years, worked hard to become what he always dreamed of, a professional soccer player. In the 2012/2013 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season, the Modesto, Calif. native played 13 games (eight starts) since an ACL tear cut his season in half.

Despite his injury, Chavez, who lived with a family in Southern California, continued attending his team’s training sessions in the City of Bell Gardens and was even able to recover ahead of planned. Outside of the field, Chavez was a great student, graduating from Birmingham High School in 2012. His performance in the classrooms and on the field led him to earn a full scholarship to attend the California State University in Los Angeles.

The Chivas USA organization welcomes the Chavez family and remembers the forever captain.